Palestinian child dies, 2 injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza

A Palestinian child who was seriously wounded on Tuesday when a rocket fired at Israel fell short and landed inside Gaza, died of her injuries during the night, medical sources said.

She was one of four people wounded in the incident, they said.

Two Palestinians were also injured in Israeli raids on parts of the Gaza Strip Tuesday evening, eyewitnesses said.

The Israeli military confirmed a series of overnight strikes in a statement which said it had struck five rocket-launching sites in northern Gaza, as well as two other sites in central and southern areas of the strip.

The Israeli air force carried out 12 raids on the Gaza Strip overnight after militants fired more rockets at southern Israel, Palestinian security sources said Wednesday.

The attacks caused severe material damage to surrounding houses and a medical clinic, according to the eyewitnesses.

For its part, the Israeli army announced that its forces staged the strikes in response to five rockets shot into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip.

One of the rockets was intercepted by Israeli air-defense "Iron Dome" system, the Israeli Army radio reported. However, it did not say whether any of the rockets caused any damage.

The Israeli military also said its forces deployed to the border with Gaza are on "highest alert."

Tensions Rise

In recent weeks there have been a series of almost nightly air strikes by Israel.

Tensions have been running high in the Palestinian territories and the increase in rocket fire from both sides comes as Israeli troops stage a wide-ranging manhunt for three teenagers who disappeared from the southern West Bank on 12 June, with the Israeli government blaming militants from the Hamas movement.

This accusation is a claim Hamas continues to deny as the Israeli government is yet to provide evidence to this effect.

Israel has said that no group has thus far claimed responsibility for the alleged kidnapping.

Until June 2, when Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank formed a joint administration, the coastal territory had been ruled by Hamas.